Pets and Holiday Hazards

Our pets have a sense of the holiday excitement in the air just as we do, but holidays can pose new hazards for our pets. Awareness of the hazards is the first step to keeping our furry kids safe and free from harm. Young pets can really get curious about the Christmas tree and decorations. Both dogs and cats will find lots of interesting things to get into, even my sweet senior dog still loves to watch the tree being decorated! She makes her rounds to check out the decorations as they're coming out of the boxes, then finds a good spot for viewing everything. (Usually as close to the tree as she can get, or under it!) Even though my pets are beyond their energetic "childhoods," they still need to be watched during this exciting time of year. Some things prove too tempting to our pets, such as chocolates and even sweet smells. Others items are just enticing our pets to play with them. If your pets like plants, then the new poinsettia may tempt them. A little caution can go a long way to keep our pets safe during the holidays.

The Christmas tree can pose several new hazards for our pets, some are not so obvious threats. Young pets want to play all the time and they find ornament balls just as much fun as their toy ball. Some of our ornaments are made from glass so thin that one bite from a dog can shatter it, possibly cutting the pets mouth, tongue and hopefully it will not get ingested. Ornaments can also be choking hazards. Shiny tinsel and ribbons can be a temptation for a cat or dog to chew and swallow and can cause choking or intestinal blockages. If the Christmas tree is a live one, even the evergreen needles can cause mouth and stomach irritation if eaten. The artificial flocking on trees is mildly toxic and can cause an upset stomach if ingested. Preservatives that are used in the tree water are often sugar based and if left standing for long periods, can harbor harmful bacteria. The tree will leach any insecticides or fertilizers used during growth into the water also. It's just a good idea to be sure to cover the water with the tree skirt or sufficiently block the tree stand where the pets can't drink the water.